1200 cals a day?

lisainit
lisainit Posts: 2
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
is anybody elses calorie intake ridiculously low? I'm almost 200 pounds surely 1200 calories a day isn't good?

Replies

  • lausa22
    lausa22 Posts: 467 Member
    It's the lowest limit for weight loss. Go adjust it if you don't want to eat so little.
  • rv40
    rv40 Posts: 99 Member
    I just changed mine to 1500. I lose more by eating more!!
  • Monge405
    Monge405 Posts: 1
    i do not know about you, but I was at 291 and my dietician placed me on a diet not to exceed 1500 calories a day, 100g of carbs, and every meal must have at least 30g of protein. The caloric intake is not bad, its the 100g of carbs - Everything has carbs!!! I weighed myself today, I am at 287
  • suekenneypfalzer
    suekenneypfalzer Posts: 9
    That does sound too low. Maybe because you put your goal too high? i.e. lose 2 lbs per week instead of 1 lb.
  • Tracy184
    Tracy184 Posts: 74
    I started at 207 lbs and 1610 calories. But I set it for only 1 lb per week. Either change your weekly weight loss goal, or just manually change the 1200 to whatever makes you more comfortable. I'm at 192 lbs right now and it's giving me 1550 for 1 lb per week, if that helps.
  • dezedeze
    dezedeze Posts: 96 Member
    I'm guessing you have it set to lose 2lbs/week? That's where it will put a lot of people to lose at that rate. I bet if you find you set it to lose 1-1.5lbs/week you'll have more calories.

    The other thing is the 1200 is what you'd be allowed if you didn't exercise...if you end up burning 500 calories one day, you'll find that it adjusts to let you eat 1700 calories that day.
  • Michelle9939
    Michelle9939 Posts: 291
    I think it's how you have your settings. My calorie intake for the day without exercise is 1,540. I currently weigh 183. I have my goals set on to lose 1 pound a week which is recommended.
  • sister_bear
    sister_bear Posts: 529 Member
    I changed mine to 1225 and I eat back my exercise calories, so many days I'm actually closer to 1400.
  • sonrie1017
    sonrie1017 Posts: 6
    also if you exercise you can eat more -- as with all things --within reason ;)
  • Tiffuni
    Tiffuni Posts: 9
    My daily goal is 1200 too and I actually thought maybe it was too much... because its not working.. now im really confused
  • rjcogirl13
    rjcogirl13 Posts: 23
    I have that same amount of calories and I struggle staying under it most days too. I weight 170 so it is a little different, but I'm also 16 so you'd think I'd need more calories too.

    My dietitican told me that it is because I have my weight loss goal at 2 lbs/week. She told me not to worry about it if I really do want to lose 2 pounds a week, but one day a week allow yourself to up your calorie goal to 1500. There are two reasons for it: 1) it will surprise your body - it'll boost your metabolism, give you a little extra energy, and keep you from hitting a plataeu and 2) it'll feel good. Everybody likes a little splurge - she gave me some great little things to spend my extra 300 calories that you might not necessarily eat on the other days (like brownie!) so message me if you are really curious as to what they are.

    rjcogirl13
  • dez_yaoichan
    dez_yaoichan Posts: 454
    mine was set to 1240. i custom set my goals to 1400, most days i dont get up that high but it takes some of the stress off) i've been losing better on the custom then the 1240.

    but you have to find a number that works for you. maybe try putting your goal for 1.5 pounds instead of 2. see how you lose with those goals and once your okay with that limit. custom your goals to a nukber between the 2 goals and see if thats okay.

    good luck :)
  • lisainit
    lisainit Posts: 2
    Oh ok thanks! I have it set to 2 pounds yeah, I usually go over anyway cause the exercise balances it out, what do you guys think a reasonable amount would be?
  • ShellyMacchi
    ShellyMacchi Posts: 975 Member
    i started at 225 in mfp in January, and my base has been 1200 cal per day, has worked great.
    i DO eat my exercise calories as we are supposed to do as well though *S*... so most days i average 1400-1500 calories eaten as a result. (for a net of about 1200)
  • hwlnmd
    hwlnmd Posts: 8
    I just joined, but it looks like that's your net calories and it depends on how many lbs per week you have as a goal.

    As you add excercise during the day, that net amount goes up. For example: My goal is to loose 2 lbs a week and I weigh 197 right now (because I've moved to a more active lifestyle).

    My net goal before I exercise is 1310 calories. I did an hour of spinning this evening, which burns approx 625. Now I have to eat 1935 today to get to my net calories of 1310 (total calories eaten - calories burned through exercise) to stay on track to loose 2lbs this week.

    Sounds crazy, but I'm willing to give it a shot.
  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    My goal is 1200. I can do a lot with my limit by eating low calorie stuff. But if you feel hungry with 1200 then I would up my limit :-)
  • leftymae5454
    leftymae5454 Posts: 41
    change minds to 1500 Cal, I not so hungry at night and losing more weight,and inches
  • SheShe1987
    SheShe1987 Posts: 23
    I'm in the same boat with you, so I thought the same thing. But don't forget you gain calories when you excercise, so you may have to just do some adjusting to your goals. Between the calories I should be burning every day and the 1200, I net a lil over 1500 for the day...most times that's plenty for me. Sometimes I'm over my daily calorie intake...some days I'm under. By keeping track, I can balance it so that I'm pretty much on target for the week! Good luck to you, and friend me if you want.:happy:
  • dez_yaoichan
    dez_yaoichan Posts: 454
    My daily goal is 1200 too and I actually thought maybe it was too much... because its not working.. now im really confused

    it sounds like your activity level is maybe too low or you need to change your goal settings to kick start your loss. try changing to 1.5 pounds and see if the higher cals help.
  • midwesthiker
    midwesthiker Posts: 144
    I started at 200 and mine was 1360. As I lose it goes down. I have found that eating healthier food with fiber helps keep you from being hungry. After awhile your body will get used to it. I now feel like I am going to explode if I eat more than 1500 a day.
  • BethanyMasters
    BethanyMasters Posts: 519 Member
    I never recommend people to a 1200 limit. Its basically the absolute minimum your body needs to function and unless you are in a comatose state its not enough.

    I used to try to do it at I hit plataues constantly and got frustrated all the time and quit more times than I care to remember.

    Do yourself a favor and set your activity level to at least lightly active and make sure you eat at least some of your exercise calories.

    when I came back to mfp after my last fall off the wagon that's what I did and I've been averaging 2 lbs a week for over 2 months now.
  • LeetahEast
    LeetahEast Posts: 1
    It also depends on your level of activity. 1200 calories is your NET calorie goal. Just being alive you will burn 1200 calories, (Which is why this number is the lowest it wants you to go). However everything you do in the day above and beyond that burns calories. Which would help you loose weight if you didn't do any specific exercising. However, if you do a 500 calorie burning workout, you should add close to 500 calories to your intake, otherwise your body goes into starvation mode and starts storing fats instead of burning it. Your body burns muscle for energy a lot easier than fat. So when your body goes into starvation mode, it burns muscle to protect itself.

    So 1200 calories is all you want to eat that are left for your body to feed itself on,unless you are doing any sort of physical activity. The NET calorie goal means calorie intake MINUS active calories burned. So, if you exercise and burn 500 calories, you can eat up to 500 more calories. If you eat 1700 calories and burn 500 in an exercise, then you have maintained your calorie goal of 1200. You don't want to be eating only 1200 calories and doing a 500 calorie workout because your body would only have 700 calories to live off of, causing your body to go into that starvation mode I talked about.

    Hope this helps a little!
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,330 Member
    is anybody elses calorie intake ridiculously low? I'm almost 200 pounds surely 1200 calories a day isn't good?

    What did you set your goal for and you activity level at. For most people if they set their activity at sedentary and goal as 2 pounds per week then their calories will be really low. Also remember MFP assumes you will eat your exercise calories so you would usually not be at 1200 but at least a few hundred higher than that. I find their are way too many people here at the 1200 cut off including a lot of men. 1200 is the minimum established by WHO for women while 1500 is the low cutoff for men below which a person is considered to not be able to get sufficient nutrition and be starving. The usual problem is either under estimating ones activity level or wanted to lose too fast.
  • flowerpower263
    flowerpower263 Posts: 28 Member
    i know it sounds rediculously low for 200 lbs. but if you do some research into your food you will find it will work for you. i don't know what kind of food you are used to eating but if you adjust it a bit you will see a dramatic change in your weight very quicky and you will not be starving. here are a few products that will help you through. breakfast 100 cal english muffins, egg beaters only 35 cal. per egg 1/2c oatmeal w/fat free milk. lunch soup, rye bread and butter, or any of the great frozen dinners with calorie counts on the package ie. healthy choice, lean quisine etc. dinner any type of fish, chicken, turkey, or turkey burgers. you just need to stop and read the labels when you are shopping all veggies salads (watch the dressing). my favorite is desert! jello makes all kinds of puddings as low as 60 cal each, also quakers rice chips. they come in cheddar, ranch and other flavors. popsickles under 40 cal, weight watcher mini cakes 60 to 100 cal each. and the list goes on and on. i didn't mean to be so winded but i hope this will help you move forward to a healthy "thin" life" i personally love my new body!!:drinker:
  • mark03264
    mark03264 Posts: 334 Member
    How much do you have MFP set to lose a week? 1 pound per week is the recommended setting and it is the rate that almost all healthcare professionals suggest. At one pound per week your daily calorie deficit is 500. At 2 pounds it is 1000. Most people have a far easier time sticking to a 500 calorie a day deficit. At 1000 per day you also run a much greater risk of losing muscle mass which will slow your metabolism making further weight lose and maintenance more difficult.
  • karenzephyr
    karenzephyr Posts: 33
    It also depends on your activity level- mine is second from highest- trying to lose 2 lbs per week- and I can eat 1450.
  • GeauxDonielle
    GeauxDonielle Posts: 145 Member
    I keep mine set on 1200 because if I put it on the 1400 I tend to eat too much. By being stricter I am less likely to exceed 1400 because I think twice when I see the red! Lol red means stop and I believe that's what it triggers in my head so I choose healthier foods instead of spending a bonus 200 on junk. Do what works best for you and listen to your body. Be smarter then your junk food brain too!! I also try to look at it like a bank account.
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